Tonight, the historic criminal trial of a once and potentially future President, former President Donald Trump, appearing today as Defendant Trump at the start of the unprecedented trial on charges that he falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. Jury selection now underway. Mr. Trump calling an assault on America and an attack by a political opponent. The trial and the political fallout tonight. Also this evening after Iran launches hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel, Israel says there will be a response despite US pressure not to retaliate. A source telling NBC a response may be imminent. While on the streets of the US, pro-Palestinian protests investors disrupt traffic Coast to Coast on the Golden Gate Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, and at a major airport. Bracing for severe weather, hail hitting the mid-Atlantic, tens of millions at risk in the plains, Al Roker is here. The armorer on the Russ movie set, Hannah Gutieras reads, sentence. The judge is harsh words. The mother's from Kansas missing for weeks. Now four people charged with murder, stun guns, burner cell phones. The shocking and elaborate new details legend police affidavits. Defacing our National Parks, police searching for the men seen damaging ancient rock formations.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome, everyone. In a moment he had desperately tried to delay or derail, Donald Trump took the defendant seating a Manhattan courtroom today for the start of his first criminal trial. A historic moment for a former American President that brought him practically face to face with a stream of prospective jurors, New Yorkers who could potentially determine his fate. None so far, however, has been seated. Mr. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records revolving around hush money payments to cover up an alleged affair with a porn actress. The former President has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied an affair. Before today's questioning of prospective jurors got underway, the judge made it clear that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was expected to be in court every day of the trial. The judge also making an important ruling over the admissibility of the infamous Access Hollywood tape in the trial. Senior legal correspondence But Laura Jarrett, has late details.

Donald Trump sitting in a Manhattan courtroom today, watching the process of whittling down a pool of hundreds to a jury of 12 with six alternates. People who will soon sit in judgment of the former President, the first to ever face a criminal trial. We're not going to be given a fair trial. It's a very, very sad thing. 200 people submitted to the courthouse today, questioned about their backgrounds, media preferences, and views on Mr. Trump. In deep Blue Manhattan, many jurors swiftly dismissed for saying they cannot be impartial. The judge driving home the stakes of the unprecedented moment for the presumptive GOP nominee, warning Mr. Trump today, if he fails to show up, he risks arrest. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of falsifying business records, a low-level felony. But the story prosecutors seek to tell more soared and sweeping, previewing their central theme today of a presidential campaign rocked by the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape, fueling Mr. Trump's determination in prosecutors telling to buy the Silence of Stormy Daniels, allegedly directing Michael Cohen to pay her $130,000 so that she wouldn't go public saying she had sex with Mr.

Trump, something he maintains never happened. The former President later reimbursing Cohen through a series of checks, allegedly doctoring his company's internal records to cover it all up.

That payment was to hide damaging information from the voting public.

The participant scheme was illegal.

The judge ruling prosecutors cannot play the Access Hollywood tape at trial but can introduce what he said. Mr. Trump's team expected to highlight how the previous DA and federal prosecutors declined to press charges in this case, while Mr. Trump lambassed the case as a democratic conspiracy to hurt his re-election chances.

This is a persecution like never before. Nobody's ever seen anything like it. Again, it's a case that should have never been brought. It's an assault on America.

The trial expected to stretch on 6-8 weeks and feature testimony from Cohen, Daniels, members of Trump's inner circle like former aid, Hope Hicks, and possibly Mr. Trump himself. I would testify, absolute. The risk of cross-examination, substantial. But the more immediate threat, possible violations of the Gag order, prohibiting Mr. Trump from attacking trial witnesses.

Laura, we've spoken a lot about the calendar here. This is just the first criminal case Mr. Trump faces this year.

Yes, Lester, he faces three other criminal cases across three different jurisdictions, but none of those, given all the delays and appeals, is ready to go to trial, which means this one in Manhattan may be the only one that proceeds to a jury before November. But in the meantime, jury selection will continue for the next couple of days, if not weeks here, Lester.

Laura Jarrett, thank you. I want to in Halley Jackson. Now, Halley, in addition to the legal risk, there is the political risk for Mr. Trump as this trial plays out.

Yeah, that's right, Lester. Listen, he hopes to use this case to his political advantage, and that worked for him in the primary. We saw his legal issues rally Republicans around him. They helped him raise money. He's even fundraising off of this case again tonight. But keep in mind, we are in the general election now, and this is where he's got to appeal to independence. About half of them say they believe these charges are serious. Another The recent polling suggests if Mr. Trump is convicted, it's President Biden who could get a boost. We are seeing tonight Mr. Trump clearly frustrated that he has to be at court for these proceedings, but all of it highlights just how extraordinary this moment is. A blockbuster collision of the court and the campaign trail that makes Donald Trump the candidate indistinguishable from Donald Trump, the criminal defendant. Lester.

All right, Halley Jackson. Thanks. Let's turn to tonight's other top story, Israel, saying today it will respond after Iran Iran launched that barrage of missiles and drones, almost all of them shot down by Israel. Richard Angle is in Israel with the latest.

Forty-eight hours after Iran attacked Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles, Israel tonight is vowing to strike back. An Israeli official telling BBC News a response could be imminent. While touring a base that was lightly damaged, the only known damage in Israel, the chief of staff of the Israeli army today said, Iran will face the consequences for its actions.

We will choose our response accordingly.

That announcement came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second war cabinet meeting in two days. Throughout his career, Netanyahu has advocated for a tough approach against Iran, including military action. And this is a pivotal moment for him. A senior Israeli official telling NBC news that the cabinet agreed that a military response is needed to show deterrence, but that it should avoid provoking a regional war and be coordinated with the United States. Easier said than done. Israel is promising to respond, even though President Biden told Netanyahu not to escalate further because with US help, Israel shot down 99% of Iran's missiles and drones. The US even led a hastily organized coalition to defend Israel that included Jordan and the UK. The day before Iran's attack, President Biden warned Iran not to strike.

President, what is your message to Iran in this moment? Don't.

But Iran isn't listening either. Soon after, the Iranian drones and missiles were heading toward Israel. We watched as Israeli missile defense systems were in action over Jerusalem's Old City, wholly for billions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. For the last several minutes, we've We've seen these flares streaking all across the skies over Jerusalem. Now, for the first time, we're hearing the air rate sirens. The Pentagon says it shot down around 100 of the drones and missiles. Iran says it's done, that the barrage was its only response to Israel's deadly airstrike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria. But Iran warned today that any Israeli reprisal would be met by an immediate counterstrike. Tonight, there are fears that the long-running shadow war between Iran and Israel is breaking out into the open with the United States right in the middle of it.

Richard, there is still some anxiety of real escalation occurring tonight.

There absolutely is. There had been a sense here that after Israel, with US help, shot down nearly all of Iran's incoming drones and missiles, that this crisis could be contained. Yet once again, the Middle East is on edge, bracing for a possible regional war. These next several days will be critical as Israel calibrates its response. Lester.

All right, Richard Angle in Jerusalem. Thank you. Tonight, the White House is trying to prevent a wider war in the region after Iran's attack on Israel. It comes as protests broke out Coast to Coast here at home against President Biden's policies in the Israel Hamas War. We get more from Gabe Gutieris.

Tonight, the pressure is mounting on the Biden administration over the war in Gaza. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters today block traffic on New York's Brooklyn Bridge with several arrests.

Oh, good.

Police say protesters near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport today substantially delayed travelers. And on San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, multiple arrests after protestors snore traffic there for hours. The demonstrations come as President Biden touts what he calls an unprecedented military effort to defend Israel.

Together with our partners, we defeated that attack.

In the oval office today, he met with Iraq's Prime Minister as he tries to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.

We're committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and preventing conflict from spreading beyond what it already has.

The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this week and following Iran's attack, urging restraint. A senior administration official tells NBC News the President told Netanyahu to take the win, and that although the White House's commitment to defend Israel though, is ironclad, the US would not participate in offensive operations against Iran. To ask it bluntly, if Israel retaliates against Iran, will the US support that?

To answer bluntly, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals.

We don't want to see a wider conflict.

Today, the White House stressed Iran did not provide warnings to the US about its time frame for launching an attack on Israel. Some Republican critics argue the Biden administration has emboldened Iran.

It's time for the Commander-in-Chief to lead allies and partners in an international effort to impose meaningful costs on Iran. And Gabe, amid all this, there are new questions about that USAID package for Israel. What can you tell us?

Yes, Lester. House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing intense pressure to bring Israel and Ukraine funding up for a vote after sitting on it for months. Well, late today, he told GOP lawmakers that he planned to do it this week in separate bills. Lester?

All right, Gabe. Thank you. Now to an update on the Rust movie set shooting with armorer Hannah Gutieras-Reed sentenced to 18 months in prison. She was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the killing of cinematographer Helena Hutchins. Gutierrez-reed made an emotional plea in court, but the judge gave her the maximum sentence, citing her lack of remorse. Also, tonight, we're watching what could be days of severe weather. This was the scene in Arlington, Virginia, where there was large hail this afternoon. The threat continues there tonight. Al Roker is here, and Al, the Plains and Midwest are under some serious threat right now.

Lester, we already have severe thunderstorms going on. Thunderstorm watch along the mid-Atlantic States. We've also got tornado watches down through Texas. The risk for severe weather tonight. We've got right now 27 million people at risk from North Platte down to Wichita, Oklahoma City, and Abilene. We're also looking at the risk of overnight tornadoes that are twice as deadly from Abilene up to Omaha. Then we move into tomorrow. We've got more people at risk, 27 26 million with wind gust of 60 miles per hour. And again, that tornado risk for EF2 or stronger. Rainsfall amounts, Lester, we're talking anywhere from one to three inches with locally upwards of five. Lester.

All right, Al. Thank you. The FBI has opened up a criminal investigation into the cargo ship that slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse last month. Federal agents bordered the nearly 1,000-foot long ship this morning with search warrants. Sources say Today, the investigation will look into events before the collapse and possible mechanical problems. In 60 seconds, a new detail is behind two mothers killed in Oklahoma and the evidence police are looking at against four suspects, including the grandmother of one of the victim's children, plus what investigators found in the suspect's search history. Next. We are back with new details about two Kansas women, believed to be missing moms, whose bodies were found in Oklahoma today. Four people are in custody this evening. Sam Brock has more on the possible motive.

After a multi-week search for two Kansas women, 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Gillian Kelly, tonight, Oklahoma authorities are revealing the discovery of two bodies in rural Oklahoma, believed to be the missing moms.

On behalf of the entire FBI, I want to express our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Veronica and Gillian.

The pair left a small Kansas town in late March, court document show, to pick up Butler's children for visitation at a birthday party, with Kelly only there to supervise the visit. When they didn't show up for the party, Butler's family went looking and found her abandoned car, which uncovered evidence of a severe injury, including blood on the roadway and Butler's glasses near a broken hammer.

It's absolutely devastating. They were both young and vibrant, and they deserved more.

Now, for Both people are behind bars charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy, including the children's grandmother, Tiffany Adams, who authorities say was in a years-long custody battle with Butler. State investigators saying the grandmother had later purchased five stun guns had three prepaid cell phones. Those phones then pingsed at the last known location of Butler and Kelly at the time of their disappearance, according to police. The teen daughter of one of the suspects telling authorities her mom was part of a self-proclaimed anti-govern procurement group they called God's Misfits, and told her things didn't go as planned, but they would not have to worry about Butler again. And tonight, the suspects who remained here behind bars have not been assigned counsel. Police say Butler's children at the center of this custody dispute are out of harm's way. Lester.

Sam Brock, thank you. We're back in a moment with the alarming news about coral reefs worldwide. Can anything be done to help? Plus, the tourists seen on camera damaging an ancient part of a national park and why officials are asking for the public's help to find them. We're back now with alarming news about our changing seas. Two scientific groups saying today that coral reefs are experiencing a worldwide bleaching event. It's all due to record-breaking ocean temperatures. Bleaching can lead to mass coral death. Experts warn this could be the worst event like this ever recorded. Also, tonight, new video of two men damaging ancient rock formations here in the West. Now, authorities are asking the public to help find them, but it's just the latest incident of visitors damaging sensitive sites. Liz Kreutz has more.

It's a moment all caught on video. He's going to fall. Two men seen damaging ancient rock formations at Nevada's Lake Mead National Recreation Area outside Las Vegas. The vandals not once, but twice, knocking massive redstone boulders off a cliff last week at the popular Redstone Dunes Trail. A young girl standing behind them screams out as the rocks come toppling down. Authorities with the National Park Service are now investigating and seeking the public's help to track down the two men. According to the park's website, the delicate rocks are millions of years old. Officials say vandalism at federally protected sites like this can result in felony charges, including fines and jail time. A little bit. Bad The behavior is something park rangers have been dealing with for years. In 2013, Boy Scout leaders cheered as they toppled over an ancient rock formation in Utah. The men were sentenced to a year of probation and a fine. More recently, in 2022, Zion National Park reported widespread vandalism with people leaving graffiti on the historic sandstone. Rangers posted this video cleaning up the spray paint. Now, as officials, search for the men responsible for this irreparable damage at Lake Mead, a reminder that breaking park rules comes with consequences.

And Lester, this is a serious offense. According to a park official, these men could face potentially several months in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. Lester.

Okay, Liz, thank you for that. And that is Nightly News for this Monday. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night. Thanks for watching. Stay updated about breaking news and top and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media.